Republicans Hold Up Violence Against Women Act~~Stupidity

Eric Cantor (R-VA) is holding up the Violence Against Women Act because he wants one group removed from the acts protections. Native American Women.!! The logic for this astounds me.

Two sources familiar with negotiations on VAWA, both of whom requested anonymity given the sensitive nature of talks, have told HuffPost that Cantor is refusing to accept any added protections for Native American women that would give expanded jurisdiction to tribes, and is pressuring Democrats to concede on that front. There does seem to be room to negotiate with Cantor on the other two provisions relating to LGBT and undocumented immigrant protections, the sources say.

Cantor believes two things. First that added protections to undocumented immigrants, the LGBT community and Native American inclusion in this Act is politically motivated. Secondly he does not want to give added powers to tribal law enforcement over non native Americans.

On point one, political motivation, so what!! If doing the right thing is a political motivation so be it. If being on the correct side of an issue is political motivation then lets get on the correct side. Whatever motivates a person to do the right thing does not matter. Just freaking do it.

On his second concern, giving more power to Tribal Law Enforcement, lets look at some facts. According to the Huffington Post,  provision for Native American inclusion, probably the least understood of the three additions in the Senate bill: It gives tribal courts limited jurisdiction to oversee domestic violence offenses committed against Native American women by non-Native American men on tribal lands. Currently, federal and state law enforcement have jurisdiction over domestic violence on tribal lands, but in many cases, they are hours away and lack the resources to respond to those cases. Tribal courts, meanwhile, are on site and familiar with tribal laws, but lack the jurisdiction to address domestic violence on tribal lands when it is carried out by a non-Native American individual.

That means non-Native American men who abuse Native American women on tribal lands are essentially "immune from the law, and they know it," Senator Patrick Leahy said.

It seems, once again, Republicans are willing to sacrifice a minority for the Good Old Boy Network. This is a common sense law that needs to be passed.

Here is a chance to get on the right side of an issue for a change. Recent history shows Republicans weak on social issues. Here is another example.

I urge Senator Cantor and all Republicans to get behind this law. Lets start showing that we actually care about people.

Randy